SASKATOON – A 27-point for Trinity Western guard Jayden Gill (Abbotsford, B.C.) highlighted an 82-76 loss at the hands of No. 3-ranked Saskatchewan at the Physical Activity Complex on Friday.
 
The Spartans (11-6) were also lifted by a double-double performance of 19 points and 12 boards from Nicole Fransson (Edmonton), but four Huskies (13-2) scoring double-digit figures stood as the difference in the match.
 
Friday's contest was a back-and-forth affair which saw the lead change 11 times, and the score tie seven times. The Spartans shot the ball well, going 49.2 percent from the field in the affair, but the Huskies edged past the Spartans with the lack of turnovers they committed (9).
 
AS IT HAPPENED
A high-scoring first frame led a 25-22 TWU lead at the first quarter's end.
 
The Huskies outscored the Spartans 22-20 in the second quarter, but TWU held a slim 47-42 lead heading into the second half of play.
 
The Spartans were held to nine points in the third quarter, giving way to Saskatchewan's 20 in the frame of play.
 
TWU could not recover after a significant setback in the third quarter, falling 82-76 at the final horn.
 
QUOTABLE
TWU Head Coach Cheryl Jean-Paul
 "Tonight's game was a great display of basketball. There were some big shots and great team play, but our drought in the 3rd really didn't support us in winning the game tonight. We allowed our defence to suffer during that time, and that's a good reminder that we can't allow one end to impact the other.
 
"We're looking forward to a tough rematch tomorrow – especially since this is the level we want to be playing at this point in the season. If we can figure out some of the glitches in our response to a tougher defensive presence going into the second half, then we can play 4 solid quarters of basketball."
 
NOTABLE
• Fransson has double-doubles in four of her past six matches.
• The Spartans are 6-24 all-time against the Huskies. TWU is 2-13 at Saskatchewan with their last victory against the Huskies being on Feb. 23, 2018.
• Gill has surpassed the 20-point benchmark in seven conference matches this season. The third-year guard currently leads the Spartans in PPG, averaging 19.6 thus far.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans rematch the No. 3 Huskies at Physical Activity Complex on Saturday (5:00 p.m. CT).
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.
 
-TW-